From "Catholic Family News" August 1997 issue:
A "Catholic" Charismatic Extravaganza by John Vennari
"TO SPEAK IN TONGUES YOU HAD NEVER LEARNED WAS, AND IS, A RECOGNIZED
SYMPTOM IN ALLGED CASES OF DIABOLIC POSSESSION." (Msgr. Ronald Knox -
Enthusiasm)
It arrived on my desk a few months ago as yet another unsolicited
piece of bulk mail. The brochure from the Franciscan University of
Steubenville, announced that "Catholic" Charismatics were about to
celebrate their 30th Anniversary bash in Pittsburgh "where it all
began," and for $69.00 registration, I would be welcome too. So it
was that on June 27, 1997, I found myself traveling toward this
Pentecostal extravaganza. I went for the purpose of observation.
There was plenty to observe. I had been to the "Toronto Blessing"
church about two years ago, as Catholic Family News printed an ex-
pose on this new movement written by Silvia MacAhern, and I wanted
to see the "worship service" for myself before going to press. The
"Toronto Blessing" is a high-charged Protestant sect that could be
called "Charismatic to the Tenth Power". They believe the Holy Ghost
manifests Himself not only in indistinguishable tongues and body gy-
rations (as was the case with the Pittsburgh "Catholic Pentecostals")
but also with screams, shrieks, rolling on the floor, hysterical
laughter, barking like dogs and oinking like pigs.
This "Toronto Blessing" received some favorable comment at the June,
1997 Charismatic Conference. "Catholic" Charismatic pioneer Kevin
Ranaghan, in his opening address, spoke of the "Toronto Blessing" as
a true movement of the Holy Spirit. In so saying, this "anointed
preacher", as they call each other, told 7,500 Catholics in the aud-
ience that barking like dogs and oinking like pigs is a true manifes-
tation of the Holy Spirit.
None of the other speakers voiced any disagreement with this radical
teaching from the podium. In fact, by the end of the weekend I would
witness priests and bishop(s) doing boogie-woogie dances on stage, I
would endure rock and roll rhythms passed off as "sacred music", I
would hear glowing prayers of praise for Protestant religions, and I
would marvel in dismay at Steubenville's Scott Hahn attempting to de-
fend Pentecostalism against bothersome "traditionalist" critics. But
we'll come to all this later.
Grown in the Garden of Heresy
Though it has been an intrusion into the Catholic Church for only 30
years, Pentecostalism is of longer history. The majority of authors
identify its true father as England's John Wesley, the founder of
Methodism. Wesley preached about the baptism of the Holy Spirit (or
"second blessing") which he claimed was an intense personal experience
confronting the Christian with the presence of God.
In time, Wesley's Methodist sect became more mainstream, and Pente-
costalism branched off into different areas. In his booklet "Assemb-
lies of God" and other "Pentecostal Churches", the great counter-
reformation apologist Rev. Dr. L. Rumble (of Radio Replies fame), tra-
ces Pentecostalism's expansion through the conduit of 19th Century
Revivalism which spawned "Holiness Churches", the Latter Rain Move-
ment and the Assembly of God Churches. Since this booklet was written
prior to present ecumenical confusion, Father Rumble clearly recog-
nized Pentecostalism as another heretical sect that Catholics must
avoid.
Regarding "talking in tongues" and other emotional outbursts, Father
Rumble wrote: "It was a kind of new discovery that such exciting man-
ifestations could result result from strong religious feelings. Prop-
het after prophet arose to engage in a revivalism aimed deliberately
at creating such abnormal displays. The idea grew that they were proof
of a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon elect souls; and such
emotional experiences were interpreted as evidence of 'Spirit Bapt-
ism,' a 'Second Blessing', conferring holiness upon all who received
such gifts." 1
This point warrants comment. It stands to reason that within Protest-
antism, a need would develop for an intense personal experience as
proof of the presence of God. Protestants falsely believe that Christ
did not establish a Church to "teach, govern and sanctify in His Name"
until the end of time. Protestantism, rooted in private interpretation
of Scripture, is merely a loose confederation of believers who accept
the Bible THE ONLY SOURCE of Divine Revelation. They lack the certain-
ties of a Divinely instituted authority teaching infallibly that the
God-given sacraments of the Catholic Church ALWAYS give grace (holi-
ness) to a soul who is properly disposed.
This need, then, for PROOF BY EXPERIENCE of God's presence in one's
life is the direct result of the Protestant's rejection of the Cath-
olic Church, its teaching authority and its sacred, grace-giving sac-
raments. Since this need is founded on an objective mortal sin against
Faith, any such emotional manifestation (that supposedly comes from
being 'baptized in the spirit') can only be explained by natural cau-
ses or demonic influence. Such manifestations also confirm the Prot-
estant in his sin of unbelief. Since the Pentecostal believes he HAS
the Holy Spirit already (and can demonstrate it on cue) who needs the
Catholic Church?
Aligned with unchangeable Catholic teaching and tradition, I argue
that to describe such exhibitions as the working of the Holy Spirit is
blasphemy. To seek and imitate such phenomena is a reckless endanger-
ment of one's Catholic Faith. To promote such mainifestations is to
play the unenviable role of false prophet. Herein lies some of the
staggering difficulties with "Catholic Pentecostalism."
Topeka's Tongues
Catholic Pentecostals believe that the great outpouring of the spirit
in modern times really began from a small Protestant sect in Topeka,
Kansas led by Charles F. Parham. Some "Catholic" Charismatics such as
Peter Herbeck (of Ralph Martin's Renewal Ministries), treat Parham's
revivalist movement as a Divine manifestation equal in drama and holi-
ness to the visitations of Our Lady of Fatima. 2
In his book Minority Religions in America, William J. Whalen succinc-
tly describes the sect's important role in modern Pentecostalism:
"The reappearance of glossolaly (speaking in tongues) was reported in
1901. Charles F. Parham, a Holiness preacher, was dismayed by the ari-
dity of his own spiritual life. He rented a white elephant mansion in
Topeka, Kansas, and started a Bible school with about forty students.
Together they set out on an intensive study of scriptures and came to
the conclusion that speaking in tongues was the one sign that a Chris-
tian had indeed received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. At 7 p.m., on
New Year's Eve in 1900, one of the students, Miss Agnes N. Ozmen,
startled the assembled group when she began to pray in tongues. Within
a few days many more followed suit.
"Parham spent the next five years as an itinerant preacher before
opening another Bible school, this time in Houston. One of his stud-
ents, a negro minister named W.J. Seymore, carried the "full-gospel"
message to Los Angeles. A three-year-long revival in that California
city attracted people from all over the country, and these people
planted Pentecostalism in most of the major cities in the U.S., as
well as in many European nations. The old Holiness Churches refused to
give emphasis to tongue-speaking, but dozens of independent Pentecos-
tal Churches were soon organized." 3
The charismatic Msgr. Vincent Walsh, an enthusiastic promoter of
"Toronto Blessing" aberrations, wrote approvingly: "Due to the mini-
stries of Parham and Seymore, modern world-wide Pentecostalism was
launched." 4 As a phenomenon among Protestant assemblies, it would
enjoy spectacular growth. And in 1967, a group of Catholics in Pitts-
burgh, with their defenses flattened by the steam-roller of aggiror-
namento, and infatuated with a Protestant minister's success story
among New York hoodlums, would adopt a "new way of thinking," study
the scriptures according to this new mindset, and plunge themselves
headlong into the arms of heterodox practice.
"Stirrings in Pittsburgh"
In his book Catholic Pentecostals, Kevin and Dorothy Ranaghan (found-
ers of the Catholic Pentecostal movement) give an account of the move-
ments beginnings. The Ranaghans and their colleagues at Duquesne Uni-
versity had been involved with various activities popular at the time
(civil rights, etc.). In the midst of these undertakings, they were
plagued with spiritual aridity. To combat this, they claim, the group
went in search of a greater influence of God in their lives.
The date was 1966-atime of unprecedented ecclesiastical upheaval.
Thomas Merton would soon be off to Tibet praying with the Dalai Lama
and calling for a unity which resembled Hindu "Oneness". New Age
writer Teilhard de Chardin was practically reverenced by many Catholic
intellectuals as the fifth evangelist. It was a tumultous period in
Church history with violent winds of change uprooting and destroying
countless Catholic landmarks. With so many of the familiar signposts
swept away, it was all too easy for Catholics to wander out of bounds
seeking God in the wrong places.
At a Cursillo Congress, this group met Ralph Martin and Steve Clarke
who introduced them to the book The Cross and the Switchblade - the
story of Protestant Minister David Wilkerson's success among teen
gangs in New York. Because of what Ranaghan and friends regarded as
"positive aspects" of pentecostalism found in this book, and because
of the "transformed lives" of two of their friends involved with such
activities, they sought a similar experience.
Ranaghan recounts that his group solicited the counsel of an Episco-
palian minister, thus ignoring the Catholic wisdom of the ages forbid-
ding positive religious camaraderie with heretical sects. This clergy-
man introduced them to a Protestant, Pentecostal gathering. The group
attended the meeting and took part in the Bible study.
One of those present, Ralph Keifer, wrote that at the end of this
prayer meeting "Pat [Bourgeois] and i asked to be prayed with for the
baptism of the Holy Spirit. They broke up into several groups because
they were praying over several people. They simply asked me to make an
act of faith for the power of the Spirit to work in me. I prayed in
tongues rather quickly." 5 Later, the same Ralph Keifer laid hands on
two others (unidentified in the book) and they to "received the bap-
tism in the spirit."
It was not surprising then that Kevin Ranaghan was the first speaker
on opening night at the 30th anniversary Conference. After boasting
that God had filled him to overflowing with the Spirit, Ranaghan re-
counted that in the early days, in order to "grow in the spirit", he
and his friend sought spiritual advice from a Protestant prayer-group:
"In the beginning the contact with Pentecostals of our area helped us
to grow in an understanding and experience of the charisms. We met in
the home of the representative of the Full-Gospel Businessmen. And
when he heard that a group of Catholics was coming, he rallied the
troops, and brought in several Pentecostal ministers and a room full
of prayer warriors to engage in what they were sure would be a hard-
fought battle. What they found was the most shockingly easy prayer-
time they had ever known. We claimed that we HAD ALREADY BEEN baptized
in the Holy Spirit, which they found hard to believe because, after
all, we were Catholics." (The audience broke into great laughter, in
joyful mockery of the "exclusive salvation" doctrines of the Catholic
Church.) He continued, "We said that we just wanted their help and ad-
vice on yielding to and using the gifts. They laid hands on us, and 1
by 1 the whole roomful of us started to pray and sing in tongues. No
battle, just a victory celebration." (Thunderous applause).
In making this statement, this "anointed preacher" seems to have for-
gotten that a Protestant victory over Catholicism cannot be regarded
as a victory for the Holy Ghost. Then Ranaghan, FURTHER indoctrinating
the crowd into religious indifferentism, sang the praise and blessings
of heretical sects. He said "Praise God for the old-time Pentecostals
and for the independent charismatics God sent our way in those days...
Yes, from the beginning, it was an ecumenical celebration."
This is how the "Catholic Charismatic Renewal" began - Catholics re-
ceiving a Protestant mock-sacrament of 'baptism of the spirit', not
through the sacramental channels of grace established by Christ, but
through collaboration with heretical groups.
From Pittsburgh the movement spread to Notre Dame and then to Newman
Centers at Michigan State and the University of Michigan. Within four
years from its beginning the Catholic Pentecostal movement spread to
dozens of areas in the U.S. and Canada. Its epidemic-like expansion
was marked by bizarre episodes played out by peculiar characters. Lay-
man Ralph Martin, one of the new breed of roving Pentecostals, travel-
led the country exercising the self-appointed commission of baptizing
others (including priests and religious) in the Holy Spirit. Father
Connolly describes an incident where both Trappist and Benedictine
monks, not willing to await the arrival of Ralph Martin, rushed out
and found their own local Pentecostals to "initiate them", and how, in
turn, they spread the "Spirit" among Catholics in their area. 6
This alien "spirit" spread indeed. Now it is a worldwide movement
with the power to draw 7,500 Catholics from all over the country to
celebrate its 30th anniversary.
"Under the Spout Where The Glory Comes Out"
Pittsburgh's David Lawrence Convention Center was set up theater
style with ample chairs and aisle space to accomodate the 7,500 regis-
trants. the stage served as the speaker's podium, makeshift sanctuary
and bandstand. A banner, beautiful large crucifix, Divine Mercy pos-
ter, and image of Our Lady of Guadalupe also adorned the platform. The
band, occupying left-stage, comprised singers, electric instruments
and full drum set. It was similar to the band at the Toronto Blessing
Church.
The rock'n'pop "praise music" played was undeservedly dignified with
the name "music ministry". The band's front man crooned the melodies
with that effeminate, sing-song, style that has come to be the hall-
mark of modern, pop-mediocre Church music. A scant handful of tradit-
ional hymns were thinly spread throughout the weekend amongst a heavy
music program. With one exception, there was no Gregorian Chant.
Though many of these songs were of a Top 40 ballad style, several had
a driving rock and roll drum beat that would catapult the crowd to its
feet singing, arms in the air, dancing in place. During these perform-
ances, one would notice young girls in tight jeans bopping to the mus-
ic, smiling and singing into each other's faces as if romping at a
Beach Boys festival. There was loud cheering and applause at the con-
clusion of most songs. The Emcee, harvesting this enthusiasm, would
encourage further outbursts by shouting "PRAISE JESUS, PRAISE GOD,
ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA", to which the crowd would obediently shout along.
Sometimes, the Emcee would initiate an indistinguishable "prayer in
tongues." Likewise, the audience would follow. Then, another musical
number would begin. The atmosphere was dominated by a blend of Protes-
tant revivalism, rock concert cheeering and pep-rally spirit. Anything
Catholic would be swallowed up in such a tumult.
Yet one striking exception occured when the singer intoned a capella
VENI CREATOR SPIRITU in Gregorian Chant. It was the only moment of the
weekend when the hall was permeated with that distinctive trademark;
the reverential hush. For this one moment the crowd sat motionless. No
hands in the air, no waving, no dancing in the aisles, no applause at
the hymn's conclusion. There is a power in genuine Sacred Music that
precludes its being accompanied by worldly cheering and holy-roller
demonstrations. This peaceful interlude would not last long. It app-
ears that Charismatics, like small children, find it difficult to sit
still and keep quiet.
At about 7:30 p.m. on opening night, the Emcee kicked things off by
seizing the microphone and screaming "HAPPY ANNIVERSARY CATHOLIC CHAR-
ISMATICS". The crowd responded with a deafening burst of frenzied
cheering that bordered Beatlemania. "There's gonna be a hot time in
the old town tonight" the Emcee barked overtop the roaring crowd.
The weekend proceeded with charismatic prayers, liturgy, dancing,
"tongues", prophesying, and speeches encouraging the crowd to "live
under the spout where the glory comes out."
"Prophesying"
One of the most peculiar Charismatic practices is "prophesying". An
individual stands as the center of attention and speaks as if God were
speaking through him. Quite a few Pentecostals performed this ritual
over the microphone. The crowd listened intently as if they were in
the presence of God speaking on Mt. Sinai. What was always uttered,
however, was a pious platitude that anyone with minimal knowledge of
religion could make up as he went along.
An excerpt from a lengthy such "prophesying" runs: "Wherever you go,
wherever you are, know that the power of my Holy Spirit is the same
for you, and bring it to the people...bring it, proclaim it and call
upon it and know that the same power you experience in you, you take
forth from this place, and have with you, forever, and in all the min-
istry that I call you to do."
After this "prophesying" the audience applauds while the Emcee
swoons, "praise the Lord, praise God, thank you Jesus, etc."
At one point in the midst of such "prophesying," one man stated: "I
the Lord am also your servant." Jim Murphy, the Emcee, commented to
the crowd in awestruck amazement, "Isn't that wonderful! GOD HIMSELF
has just told us that He is also our servant." In practice, Murphy
was teaching the audience that indeed, GOD HAS JUST SPOKEN through the
charismatic prophet right before their eyes...a presumption that is
foreign to Catholicism.
There was not much solid teaching on doctrine, morals or spirituality
from the speakers. Any Catholic teaching was highly seasoned with post
-Vatican II flavoring. Anyone hoping to really learn something would
have walked away disappointed. Like the Toronto Blessing, most speak-
ers were shallow, empty and often quite noisy. The weekend's primary
purpose was to celebrate the joy of being "alive in the Lord," with
much encouragement to "march forward in the spirit."
No Rosary Strange Liturgies
Patti Gallagher Mansfield, one of the pioneer charismatics of the
60s, lectured on St. Louis de Montfort's True Denotion to Our Lady.
The speech was a hybrid of theologies blending the "goodness" of being
baptized in the spirit along with devotion to Mary. Mrs. Mansfield
seriously undermined her own lecture, and shredded her credibility,
stating that she did not recommend traditional devotions to Mary such
as the Miraculous Medal, the Rosary, etc., because, in her theology,
"it doesn't matter how you come to Mary, as long as you come."
She further downplayed the importance of the Holy Rosary with the
declaration: "If devotion to Mary consisted of saying the Rosary every
day, I would be lost."
I thought it odd that this Charismatic lady, (supposedly possessing a
special "hotline to Heaven" due to her baptism in the spirit) would so
self-assuredly CONTRADICT the express command of Heaven by Our Lady in
1917 who said "GOD WISHES TO ESTABLISH IN THE WORLD DEVOTION TO MY
IMMACULATE HEART." Our Lady then GAVE SPECIFIC DIRECTIONS on how this
devotion is to be practiced, most important of which is Our Lady's
request to pray the Rosary everyday. Our Lady then PROVED Her words
with the greatest miracle in New Testament history, the Miracle of the
Sun. Yet none of Fatima's urgent directions from Heaven were preached
at this conference by speakers who constantly boasted of being "filled
to overflowing with the spirit." During this gathering, Fatima was
practically non-existent. There was no public recitation of the Rosary
during the entire weekend, yet plenty of time for revivalist, dance-in
-the-aisle "worship" services.
The conference liturgies were Novus Ordo concelebrations with Bishop
Sam Jacobs, a to-the-bone charismatic prelate, as main celebrant. Here
too, the scale of spirituality tipped toward Protestantism. What took
place after the Gospel smacked more of an Amway motivational seminar
than a Catholic homily. The "Sunday Sermon" featured Bishop Jacobs
prancing up and down the stage in revivalist style, spewing a generous
mouthful of "Amens" and encouraging audience participation.
During this address, taking his cue from Our Lord's "Who do you say
that I am?" to Simon Peter, Bishop Jacobs screamed at the audience:
"WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?"
Screaming crowd "JESUS!"
Bishop Jacobs: "WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?"
Crowd: "JESUS!"
Bishop Jacobs: "WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?"
Crowd: "JESUS!" 7
The homily was often interrupted by loud stamping applause... mind
you, this was in the middle of Sunday Mass! Homilies on other days
were of similar stripe. It was heartbreaking to endure a Roman Catho-
lic bishop carrying on like some cheap imitation of Oral Roberts.
The Masses included choreographed "worship in tongues" that would
take place at a pause during the "Holy Holy Holy" and also before the
Our Father. The "kiss of peace" will be left to the reader's imagin-
ation.
Most eerie of all charismatic liturgical practices is the buzz of
"tongues" replacing the consecration bells. During the consecration,
at the elevation of the Host and at the elevation of the Chalice,
Bishop Jacobs stood in elevation pose and initiated "prayer in tong-
ues" that spread through the entire congregation: "Hum de yah hay dah
sham a lum yada..." A drone of indistinguishable gibberish would rise
from the crowd, sounding like the ghastly hum of a Hindu Ashram. The
vast majority of the audience received Communion in the hand.
Father Michael Scanlon
The summer, 1997 issue of Sursum Corda! magazine featured a surpris-
ingly favorable article on Steubenville University. The journal repor-
ted that Steubenville's Father Scanlon "has allowed and even encoura-
ged the [charismatic] movement's decline at the University."
With all due respect to this well-meaning publication, this is cert-
ainly NOT the message that Father Scanlon transmitted during his spe-
ech at the Pittsburgh Conference. Not only is Steubenville hosting the
Charismatic Leadership Conference in 1998, but Father Scanlon seemed
determined to set the record straight regarding Steubenville's commit-
ment to Pentecostalism. He opened: "I just want to make it clear about
the Franciscan University of Steubenville. IT IS the Power of the Holy
Spirit, IT IS being baptized in the Holy Spirit, IT IS the Charismatic
Renewal that launched and is responsible for the growth and maturity
of this University, and I thank God for that!" (thunderous applause)
In this speech, Father Scanlon spoke of his "three conversions". The
first was when he came to be fully convinced in the truths of the
Catholic Church and Sacred Scripture. The second was when he was at
Harvard Law School and abandoned all to become a Franciscan priest. So
far so good.
But the third "conversion" was his entry into Pentecostalism in 1973.
He explained that he felt it his duty, as rector of 170 Franciscan se-
minarians, to make his men holy, and was perplexed on how to achieve
this. A Carmelite nun told him "You need to be baptized in the Holy
Spirit." A week later, one priest and two laymen laid hands on him. He
claims that there he received "A R-R-RUSH OF THE SPIRIT". He recount-
ed, "after that, my preaching changed, people started getting healed
in the confessional. People started flying in to go to confession."
He gave accounts of spiritual and bodily healings he had been involved
with. He also shouted, "I EXPERIENCE A GREATER POWER OF THE SPIRIT, A
GREATER RUSH TODAY THAN I DID THEN" (in 1973).
While this was taking place, I tried to imagine humble models of
sanctity such as Padre Pio, St. John Bosco and St. John Vianney boast-
ing to a crowd of 7,500 how "filled witht the spirit" they were, and
bragging of their spirit filled ministries having been so instrumental
in unproven cures. It was repeated testimonials such as this by vari-
ous speakers that made me feel I was in the middle of a three-day
Charismatic infomercial.
To hear priests like Father Scanlon praise the Protestant practice of
"baptism in the spirit" as if it were THE final road to holiness is
quite bewildering. This is especially puzzling since seminary rectors
of old would have suffered a martyr's death rather than seek a Protes-
tant mock-sacrament as a channel to sanctity. The Catholic methods
are still the only ones lawful and true. Why did he not simply employ
the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius for these men, since the
Spiritual Exercises are a PROVEN road to holiness, have been PRACTI-
CED AND ENDORSED by centuries of Popes and Saints, and were GIVEN to
Saint Ignatius by the Blessed Mother Herself (the spouse of the Holy
Ghost).
As we know, to take part in non-Catholic religious services is a
grave sin against Faith, and Pentecostalism comes fron such forbidden
religious activity. One cannot help but wonder if a Catholic, even a
priest, walks into such sinful activity with his eyes wide open, and
PERSISTS in such heterodox practice, would end up being punished by a
spiritual blindness that judges certain evils as good. Whether this is
the case with the clergymen at this conference, only God knows.
Also, the Catholic is not easily impressed with the reported miracles
among Charismatics. None spoken of at this conference were documented.
Pentecostals are not the only group claiming miracles and conversions
to authenticate their movement. There are numerous unapproved Marian
apparitions (some that report the Blessed Mother warning "the Charis-
matics are from Hell") that also claim miracles and conversions. 8
There are wild visionaries like Clemente in Spain who has crowned him-
self "Pope Gregory XVI" (sic) [Note: Actually it was Gregory XVII]
who's movement likewise claims healings and conversions.
A miracle can only be genuine if absolutely no other natural cause
can be attributed to it (at Lourdes, only 65 as of 1989, have been
proclaimed by the Church as miraculous). Also, miracle to be truly of
God, the MESSAGE that the miracle enforced must be in conformity with
the traditional teaching of the Church. Here, of course, is where Pen-
tacostalism falls flat, as there is nothing Catholic about seeking
holiness from heretical, non-sacramental sects.
If any extraordinary phenomenon is used to justify a new or false
doctrine, then Catholicism judges this as a "lying wonder" - a pheno-
menon that comes from man or from the devil. As Father Vincent Miceli
pointed out in his speech, The Antichrist, "these are called lying
wonders because they draw people to a different religion rather than
the true religion."
Our Catholic Church has a marvellous two-thousand year history of
"discernment of spirits" contained in traditional ascetical and mysti-
cal theology that must be rigidly applied to such manifestations. Here
we have the opposite: Laypeople lay hands on an individual, the indi-
vidual gets a RUSH, and immediately proclaims he is "full of the Spir-
it." This is shocking presumption according to Catholic teaching.
The Catholic Church teaches that we should never accept at face value
any apparent supernatural manifestation as something definitely coming
from God. Never! - since it is too easy to be deceived by demonic for-
ces. The agony suffered by Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque and other au-
thentic favored souls laboring to determine the genuineness of their
heavenly manifestations should be ample testimony.
I see none of these criteria applied to Charismatics. In fact, the
Charismatics seem to act as if these teachings either do not exist, or
do not apply to them. However, it would seem that most Charismatics at
this conference were simple, well-meaning people who know nothing of
these teachings, nor of their duty to "test the spirits" according to
these wise strictures. 9
Parents considering sending their children to Steubenville University
should know that Father Scanlon boasted with great pride, 75% OF ALL
STUDENTS OF THE FRANCISCAN UNIVERSITY OF STEUBENVILLE, HAVE BEEN PRA-
YED WITH TO RECEIVE THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT." Also, a busload
or two of Steubenville students were manning the volunteer work at
this conference. Hence, Steubenville students will be exposed to such
Charismatic gatherings that are viewed by this university as accept-
able Catholic practice.
Rock Around the Flock
The Charismatic Saturday Night Dance that followed Fr. Scanlon's spe-
ech would launch the element of the absurd to skyscraping heights. Of
course, this "Saturday Night Fever" approach to religion was also un-
deservedly dignified with the name "ministry session." It consisted
of Pentecostal Diva, Babsie Bleasdell, "doing her thing" over the
microphone for about an hour.
The session was one of Bleasdell preaching and leading prayers in the
revivalist, Baptist patter of "praise the Lord, Alleluia, the spirit
of fear and doubt begone in the Name of Jesus, let the spirit of God
fall upon you...a spirit of joy! joy! while the audience caught the
enthusiasm and flared into a "holy groove." The band played its ener-
getic rock'n'pop "praise" music with an increased fury. At one point,
the dam of enthusiasm burst as the crowd rushed to the front of the
hall in full-body dancing like adoring fans celebrating their favorite
rock band. Bleasdell would encourage the frolicking. In the midst of
all this, a James Brown rendition of "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag"
would not have been out of place.
Bleasdell also employed the well-worn Pentecostal mesmerism: "some of
you experience that you don't have a headache any more...raise your
hand." etc., etc. At one point, Father Scanlon, obviously overwhelmed
with enthusiasm, seized center stage and addressed the crowd as if in
the grip of a dream: I almost never get visions but I can see God's
hand moving down inside of so many in this assembly and reaching in
and grabbing the garbage ...GRABBING THE GARBAGE. (rising to a shout-
ing crescendo) LET HIM PULLIT UP! GET RID OF IT. SEND IT UP NOW-SEND
IT OUT. THE HOLY SPIRIT'S GONNA REPLACE IT! GARBAGE OUT-HOLY SPIRIT
IN!!" The crowd responded with " Praise God, Praise Jesus, Alleluia,
Alleluia." There would be time for the entire congregation to join in
"healing prayers."
For the most part, I find Charismatic leaders to be a cadre of very
silly men. This impression was nowhere better confirmed than at this
"ministry session". While Bleasdell was revving the crowd with cries
of "LOVE AND DANCE BEFORE THE LORD...HE LONGS TO SEE IT", priests and
bishop(s) on a crowded stage, including Father Scanlon, were having
the time of their lives and joined in the dancing. 7,500 Charismatics
were treated to the spectacle of Bishop Sam Jacobs joining arms with
a woman (a plainslothes nun, I think) executing a rather clumsy series
of moderate can-can kicks. At one point, Bleasdell was flanked by Bis-
hop Jacobs on her right and what appeared to another bishop on her
left engaging in full body dance, their pectoral crosses bouncing to
the rhythm, while smiling and waving at the audience. The three of
them together looked more like Diana Ross and the Supremes than reli-
gious leaders. It seems that the more our Church officials talk of
human dignity, the more they degrade ecclesiastical dignity.
Problems with Pentecostalism
There is no room to catalog each of the outlandish activities, since
there is enough material at the Convention for a major work of non-
fiction. Likewise, a full treatment of the varied and numerous theo-
logical problems with this movement is beyond the scope of this art-
icle. Apart from those already mentioned, some of the more outstand-
ing difficulties with "Catholic" Pentecostalism are as follows:
1) THE ENTIRE MOVEMENT IS FOUNDED ON A SIN AGAINST FAITH.
There are three EX CATHEDRA (infallible) dogmatic pronouncements
teaching that outside the Catholic Church there is no salvation. The
most striking of those pronouncements reads: "The sacrosanct Roman
Church, founded by the voice of Our Lord and Savior, firmly believes,
professes and preaches ... and proclaims that those who are not living
with the Catholic Church, not only pagans, but also Jews and heretics
and schismatics cannot become participants in eternal life, but will
depart 'into everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his
angels' [Matt. 25:41] unless before the end of life the same have been
added to the flock...{A]nd that no one, whatever almsgiving he has
practiced, even if he sheds his blood for the name of Christ, can be
saved unless he has remained in the bosom and unity of the Catholic
Church." 10
In perfect continuity with these infallible teachings, traditional
Catholic Moral theology, here summarized by Bishop Louis LaRavoire
Morrow, S.T.D., holds that "A Catholic sins against Faith by taking
part in non-Catholic worship, because he thus professes belief in a
religion he knows to be false." 11
Yet by the admission of the Catholic Charismatic pioneer, Kevin Ran-
aghan, the movement began with Catholics performing the grotesque
ritual of seeking a spiritual blood transfusion from the dead corpse
of Protestantism, and proclaiming that God "filled them to overflowing
with the spirit" for doing so. Such collaborating and "seeking the
holiness of the Holy Spirit" from anathematized heretics (what Protes-
tant would survive the anathemas of the Council of Trent?) cannot be
a religious movement truly of God.
2) IT IS A MOVEMENT FOUNDED THE PRINCIPLES CONDEMNED BY POPE PIUS XI
AND POPE PIUS XII.
Both Pope Pius XI and Pius XII(basing their teaching on the unchang-
ing tradition of the Church rather than the progressive novelties of
liberal theologians)warned against the dangers of interfaith activity.
Pius XI in Mortalium Animos taught that though St. John recounted
Our Lord's prayer "that all may be one", as well as Christ's command
"to love one another", "nevertheless (St. John) strictly forbade any
intercourse with those who professed a mutilated and corrupted form
of Christ's teaching, 'If any man come to you, and bring not this doc-
trine, receive him not into thy house, nor say to him, God speed you."
Pope Pius XI further castigated interfaith projects, stating, "...It
is clear that the Apostolic See can by no means take part in these as-
semblies, nor is it in any way lawful for catholics to give such ent-
erprises their encouragement or support. If they did so, they would be
giving countenance to a false Christianity, quite alien to the one
Church of Christ." 12
Yet as already mentioned, Catholic Pentecostalism is the product of
such forbidden ventures.
Further, Pope Pius XII, in his 1949 Instruction on Ecumenism taught
that if there is to be any exchange between Catholics and non-Cathol-
ics(solely for the sake of converting the non-Catholic to the one true
Faith), all activity must be guided by the truth that "the Catholic
Church possesses the fulness of Christ", that is, it does not need to
acquire things that go to make up the fulness of Christianity from
other denoninations. 13
Catholic Pentecostalism "needed to acquire" the mock-sacrament of a
false religion (baptism in the spirit) for its impetus. Hence it acts
in haughty disdain of Pius XII's trafditional directives.
3)IT FAVORS RELIGIOUS INDIFFERENTISM.
As noted already, the movement was born through unlawful collaborat-
ion with Protestantism. To this day, founder Kevin Ranaghan still
"praises God for the old-time Pentecostals," and speaks of Protestant
splinter groups like the "Toronto Blessing" as genuine movements of
the Holy Ghost.

A "Catholic" Charismatic Extravaganza (continued)
Further, among the vendors at this 30th Anniversary Conference, two
Protestant organizations were represented. Destiny Image Publications,
a non-denominational "ministry" producing revivalist literature dis-
played a full selection of books for sale, including those promoting
the "Toronto Blessing". Charisma magazine, a Protestant publication,
hawker their journal to crowds with the promise that "starting next
month, each issue of our Charismatic magazine will contain a 'Catholic
supplement'." Indeed, Pentecostalism and ecumenism feed off each oth-
er, since acceptance of Pentecostalism depends on recognizing Protest-
antism as another valid form of Christianity.
In 1864, Venerable Pope Pius IX, in perfect continuity with the un-
changing dogmas of the centuries, taught in his landmark SYLLABUS OF
ERRORS that "IT IS AN ERROR to believe that Protestantism is nothing
more than another form of the same true Christian religion..." 14
As should be obvious by now, Catholic-Pentecostalism is IMMERSED in
this error in origin and practice.
4) THE MOVEMENT'S CONTINUED GROWTH WOULD SEEM TO DEPEND ON THE ABSENCE
OF THE LATIN TRIDENTINE MASS.
The "Catholic Charismatic" movement started when the Latin Tridentine
Mass was in decline and the Protestant-style Novus Ordo emerging-a new
liturgy historically proven to be favorable to experimentation and im-
provisation. The liturgical abberations mentioned in this article
could not have taken place within the Latin Tridentine Mass. Cardinal
Ottaviani noted, that the Latin Tridentine Mass in alignment with the
Council of Trent's dogmatic teaching was an insurmountable barrier
against heresy. 15 It is not unreasonable to speculate that implicit
in Catholic-Pentecostalism is the erroneous notion that the Latin
Tridentine Mass was an obstacle to the work of the Holy Ghost, since
it may have stood in the way of Pentecostalism's "powerful unleashing
of the Spirit" throughout the world.
5) IT VIRTUALLY IGNORES CATHOLIC TEACHING ON THE DISCERNMENT OF SPIR-
ITS.
Though this point has been covered already, it must be further noted
that Pentecostalism ENCOURAGES extraordinary phenomena such as "proph-
esying" and "talking in tongues." Yet the great mystical writer and
Doctor of the Church, St. John of the Cross, warned that souls must
flee from seeking any such manifestations. What this great saint said
of private revelations equally applies to all such phenomena: "Where-
in the devil habitually meddles so freely [in extraordinary phenomen-
on] that I believe it impossible for for a man not to be deceived by
them, unless he strive to reject them, such an appearance of truth and
security does the Devil give them. 16
Also, Msgr. Knox wrote that "to speak in tongues you had never learn-
ed was, and is, a recognized symptom in cases of alleged diabolic pos-
session." 17 To freely expose oneself to such dangers borders on mad-
ness.
6) IT BEARS A STRIKING RESEMBLANCE TO THE OCCULTIC NEW AGE MOVEMENT IN
THREE WAYS:
a) It is a pan-denominational movement with a non-Catholic principle
as its unifying factor, in this case, "baptism in the spirit".
b) It is a religion of EXPERIENCE. Charismatics never really provide
a satisfactory theological explanation of "baptism of the spirit,"
but emphasize that is something that must be experienced. This mirr-
ors New Age tendencies.
c) It sneers at any traditional Catholic teaching that stands in opp-
osition to it.
Hence, the problems with "Catholic Pentecostalism" are true and seri-
ous, and cannot be passed over lightly, or laughed out of court by
appealing to a new "living tradition" that suddenly blesses what the
Church always condemned.
The Athanasian Creed states "Whoever would be saved before all else,
it is necessary that he hold to the Catholic Faith; unless such a one
preserve it integral and inviolate, without doubt he will perish in
eternity." In light of the traditional teaching of the Church, it can
be firmly argued that to seek involvement with Catholic-Pentecostal-
ism's wild mixture of truth and error, as well as its heterodox prac-
tice, is to recklessly endanger one's Faith.
A Conquered People
The Catholic historian Dr. John Rao observed that throughout history,
a conquered people will often take on the characteristics of their
conquerors. 18 A more apt description of "Catholic-Pentecostalism"
could not be formulated. Charismatics are a conquered people who have
surrendered their priceless, God-given heritage while dancing on the
graves of their Catholic ancestors in giddy imitation of Protestant
practice. 19
The Pentecostalism and ecumenism presently gripping our Holy Church
could be nicknamed "Luther's Conquest." It is not only our duty to
resist it, but aso to beseech Heaven on behalf of the "Catholic Char-
ismatic" who prays with his hands in the air and his foot on the tht-
oat of traditional Cathoolic doctrine and practice.
Footnotes
1)Rev. Dr. L. Rumble, M.S.C., "Assemblies of God" and other "Pentecos-
tal Churches", p.18.
2)Peter Herbeck, "The Titanic Battle", Renewal Ministries Newsletter,
Ann Arbor, MI, May 1997.
3)Whalen, op cit. pp.179-180
4)Msgr. Vincent M. Walsh, What is Going On?(Wynnewood,PA,Key of David
Publications,1995),p.31.
5)Kevin and Dorothy Ranaghan, Catholic Pentecostals, Paulist Press,
New York, 1969, p.15
6)James Connelly, O.S.C.,"The Charismatic Movement," in As the Spirit
Leads Us,(Paulist Press:New York,1971).
7)I want to make it clear, in case anyone misunderstands this format,
that Bishop Jacobs was not trying to induce the crowd to proclaim HIM
(Bishop Jacobs) as Jesus, this is simply the emotional charismatic way
of eliciting from the audience some sort of act of faith.
8)It should be here stated that I(and Catholic Family News) do not
follow or promote any of the unapproved apparitions of recent history
or before. - [J.V.]
9)Two excellent sources of Catholic theological treatment of Extra-
ordinary Phenomena can be found in The Spiritual Life by Fr. Adolph
Tanquerey(out of print)and The Three Ages of the Interior Life[2 vol-
umes]by Fr. Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange,O.P.-available from Catholic
Family News.
10)Pope Eugene IV, Exbulla, "Cantate Domino", Feb. 4, 1441.
11)Most Reverend Louis LaRavoire Morrow, S.T.D.,Bishop of Krishnagar,
My Catholic Faith,(originally published in 1949), p.193.
12)Pope Pius XI, Mortalium Animos, On Fostering True Religious Unity,
Jan. 6, 1928.
13)"Instruction on the Ecumenical Movement," A.A.S., Jan. 31, 1950,cf.
Romano Amerio, Iota Unum,(Sarto House,Kansas City,1996), p.549.
14)The full quotation of Proposition #18 reads that it is an error to
say that "Protestantism is nothing more than another form of the same
true Christian religion in which form it is given to please God equ-
ally as in the Catholic Church". Pope Pius IX's Syllabus of Errors as
written in Dogmatic Canons and Decrees, Tan Books and Publishers,
Rockford, Ill.
15)The Ottaviani Intervention,(Tan Books & Publishers, Rockford, IL),
p. 27
16)St. John of the Cross, Ascent of Mount Carmel, Chapter 27.
17)Msgr. Ronald Knox, Enthusiasm,(Oxford University Press, Oxford,
1950), p. 551
18)Dr. John Rao, "Why Catholics Cannot Defend Themselves"-An address
given by Dr. John C. Rao(D. Phil,Oxford University, Associated Prof-
essor of History, St. John's University)on the occasion of the first
anniversary of the Dietrich von Hildebrand Institute, Feb.18,1993,
and printed in the book Americanism and the Collapse of the Church in
the United States, p.42.
19)When I say Protestant practice, I really mean Pentecostal-Protest-
ant practice, since I know many sober Protestants would never go any-
where near Pentecostalism.
**********************************************************************
Scott Hahn and Pentecostalism (Catholic Family News, August 1997)
by John Vennari
The most theological meat at the 30th Anniversary Conference was pro-
vided by the convert, Scott Hahn. Unfortunately, this address, entitl-
ed Scripture and Tradition, was a massive disappointment in many ways.
Though Hahn uttered much of what is true, it was obvious trouble was
coming when he asserted that the Church now has a NEW understanding of
Tradition thanks to such "leading lights" as Maurice Blondel, Henri de
Lubac and Yves Congar. These "leading lights" are the current fashion
enjoying tremendous popularity and influence in today's Church. Yet
this vogue does not eclipse the substansial problems contained in
their new thinking.
The great anti-modernist Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange wrote to Maurice Blon-
del in the 1940's asking him "to retract his false definition of truth
before dying...if he didn't want to spend too long in Purgatory." 1
In the 1946 essay "Where is the "New Theology" taking us?", Fr. Garri-
gou-Lagrange also warned of the dangers inherent in the "new theology"
of Henri de Lubac. The eminent Thomistic scholaar concluded, "where is
[this] 'new theology' taking us? it is taking us in a straight line
right back to modernism by way of whims, errors and heresy."
Henri de Lubac's theology blurs the distinction between the natural
and the supernatural orders. This novelty was condemned in paragraph
26 of Pope Pius XII's 1950 Encyclical against modern errors, Humani
Generis. Likewise, in 1980, the staunchly orthodox Cardinal Siri dev-
oted 15 pages of his book Gethsemane to examine de Lubac's errors.
Siri concluded that de Lubac's theology, taken to its logical conclus-
ion, would mean that "either Jesus is only man, or that man is Div-
ine." 2
Further, those whom de Lubac regarded as heroes and enemies is of
great concern. Notonly did de Lubac nurse a sneering contempt for the
anti-modernist Garrigou-Lagrange, but de Lubac was also a steadfast
defender of of the arch-apostate, Teilhard de Chardin. 3
Of Yves Congar, the French writer Arnaud de Lassus commented that
"having contributed to the conciliar rupture with Traditional Catholi-
cism, Fr. Congar had the honesty to recognize the existence of this
rupture." 4 Msgr. William B. Smith of Dunwoodie Seminary has lectured
that Liberation Theology rests heavily on Karl Rahner and Yves Con-
gar. 5
Hence, Dr. Hahn's unqualified praise of these modern theologians
sends chills up the spine. The "living tradition" propagated by these
new thinkers is the basis for the entire Vatican II revolution- a rev-
olution that has turned the Church of today into something different
from the Church of yesterday. As one progressive theologian wrote, "At
Vatican II, the Church redefined herself."
If in the name of this "living tradition," the Church of today can be
different from the Church of yesterday, then it follows the Church of
tomorrow will be different from the Church of today, and the Church of
the distant future will be different from the Church of tomorrow. One
is compelled to agree with Garrigou-Lagrange's keen foresight that the
"new theology" favors the never-ending flux of modernism.
Toward the end of the speech, Dr. Hahn shifted gears from a dicussion
of Tradition to a full-throttle support of the Catholic-Pentecostals.
This defense of Pentecostalism reminded me of Msgr. Knox's lament that
the Montanist heresy of the 2nd Century "would have made but a small
ripple on the surface of Christendom, if the wayward genius of Tert-
ullian had not lent energy to its propoganda." 6
"You as Charismatic Catholics, Hahn sympathized, "seem to get it from
both sides these days-from the non-Catholics and friends who are ex-
catholics whose Charismatic experience may have lead them out of the
Church-and from the traditionalist Catholics who bash you for emotion-
alism."
Presenting himself as the reasonable man in the middle, he then re-
futed a caricature of traditionalist objections.
"I hear certain Catholics" he stated, "who call themselves tradition-
al say 'We have powerful sacraments, we don't have any need for emot-
ions." Hahn's reply to this objection, "Hey look, if we've got sacra-
ments as powerful as the Church teaches, then of all Christians in the
world, we have just cause to get emotional." (loud applause)
Any self-respecting Catholic will resent this flippant response. Due
to his recent entry into the Church, perhaps Dr. Hahn has yet to wit-
ness the splendor of genuine Catholic emotion that is always accomp-
anied by profound reverence and sober piety. Even though the Catholic
Faith does not rest on the emotions, Catholics have known for centur-
ies that the "adventure of orthodoxy" can thrill the heart like noth-
ing else. I have seen Ukrainian Uniate choirs booming their majestic
Slavonic Chant, men and women singing full throat with tears streaming
down their faces. I have been enchanted by the sight of teenage girls,
modestly dressed with heads covered, quietly gasping to catch their
breath, overcome with the majesty, beauty and power of a full pontifi-
cal Tridentine High Mass. I know of traditional Catholic Ignatian re-
treats producing genuine tears of compunction from sinners who have
been away from Confession for decades. To suggest that an exhibition
of high-voltage, Protestant giddiness is equal or superior to the in-
timate religious emotions emanating from Catholic piety is a crowning
insult to the Saints and to our Catholic heritage of two millenia.
In further exaltation of Pentecostalism, Dr. Hahn proclaimed, "Remem-
ber, our first Pope, Peter, was probably the first man to speak in
tongues, and presumably the Blessed Virgin Mary too."
This is a verbal dissembling worthy of Rembert Weakland.
There is no record that Our Lady spoke in tongues or conducted any
kind of external ministry (which is the PURPOSE of tongues). Even if
Hahn made this declaration with a mental reservation, the audience
that he is addressing will understand him to mean that Our Blessed
Mother, Queen of Heaven and Earth, practiced the indistinguishable
gibberish of old-time Pentecostals. One would not want to be respons-
ible before God for conjuring up such an image in people's minds.
The miracle of tongues exercised by Peter and the Apostles, and as
defined by St. Thomas Aquinas, bears no resemblance to Charismatic
practice. Furthermore, according to the Catholic Biblical Encyclo-
pedia, the charism of tongues in ancient Corinth has little in common
with the glossolalia of today's Pentecostals. 7
Scott Hahn's defense of this new movement defies understanding. Pent-
ecostalism is a Protestant innovation that has never been tolerated
in Church history. Dr. Hahn would do well to remember the counsel of
Pope St. Pius X who assures us "Indeed, the true friends of the people
are neither the revolutionaries nor innovators, they are the traditio-
nalists." 8
Footnotes: 1)"Quelle Che Pensano Di Aver Vinto," Si Si, No No, Rome,
Jan. 31, 1993, pp. 2-3; 2)Siri, Gethsemane, p.70; 3)See "Ratzinger
Bemoans Novus Ordo Liturgical Collapse, Catholic Family News, June,
1997; 4)See Catholic Family News, Nov. 1996, p. 3,7; 5)Lecture on Lib-
eration Theology by Msgr. Smith, Keep the Faith, Inc.; 6)Enthusiasm,
p. 25; 7)See article on page 3; 8)Pope St. Pius X, Our Apostolic Man-
date, Aug. 25, 1910, Paragraph 44. [J.V]
**********************************************************************
The Gift of Tongues
by John Vennari, Catholic Family News, August 1997
At the 30th Anniversary Charismatic Conference, I found myself next
to a woman who was joining in the "prayer of tongues" initiated by the
Emcee. She was "praying" with hands raised along with moderate body
fidgeting. Her style of "tongues" was an indistinguishable mutter put
to an improvised flight melody. When I pointed my hand-held micro-
cassette recorder in her direction, she immediately stepped up the
volume on her "tongue melody" and inched closer to the recorder. This
woman had divined that I was looking for a show, and she was determin-
ed to provide me one.
Tongues in Scripture
Sacred Scripture seems to recount two different classifications of
the gift of tongues. The first is that special gift recorded in the
Acts on the day of Pentecost where the Apostles would preach in their
own language and people from many different lands heard them in their
native speech. It would be as if Cardinal Stickler at the United Nat-
ions General Assembly with all the participants from various nations
understanding his words without the aid of an interpreter. Very few
saints were favored with this gift, most notably St. Francis Xavier
and St. Vincent Ferrer.
The other manifestation of tongues appears to be what is recorded in
St. Paul's letter to the Corinthians. As if giving a precise definit-
ion in order to counteract modern-day Pentecostalism, The Catholic
Biblical Encyclopedia employs careful language to define this gift:
"The Gift of Tongues is a charism consisting in an articulate, intel-
ligible utterance (1 Cor.14,9. 19) that could be interpreted with the
assistance of another special gift (14,5. 13. 27f) either by the spea-
ker himself or by another in the audience." 1
The "tongues" of today's Pentecostals bear no resemblance to either
of these two gifts.
Enthusiasm
Msgr. Ronald Knox was one of the most eminent Catholic Churchmen in
England in the first half of this century, and was an acquaintance of
Bishop Fulton Sheen and a friend of writer Evelyn Waugh. His book
Enthusiam, which took 30 years to write, is unparalleled in document-
ing the history of "ultra-supernaturalism" in the Church. He covers
such peculiarities as the Church of Corinth, the Morovian heresy, John
Wesley, the Quakers, Shakers and my personal favorite, the Convulsion-
aries of Saint-Medard. The manifestation of "tongues", as practiced
to day, is treated in one of the final chapters entitled "The Vagaries
of Modern Enthusiasm."
In Chapter Two, under the subheading entitled "Greediness over the
Gifts of the Spirit," Knox mentions that there were certain manifest-
ations of tongues at the time of St. Paul in Corinth. These tongues
would have to be along the lines of what the Catholic Biblical Encyc-
lopedia defined above.
Knox notes that St. Paul would attempt to check such activities, for
he wrote that, "it was the curb, not the spur that is needed in first-
century Corinth." Knox further commented that "it was not till the 2nd
Century that such manifestations grew rare, and were viewed with mis-
giving by those in authority." 2
The disappearance of the gift of tongues occured early in Church his-
tory. Father Rumble of Radio Replies explains: "Under the control of
ecclesiastical authority the chaff was winnowed from the wheat, and it
was soon seen that the Holy Spirit had no intention of continuing in
the Church miraculous gifts ordained only to the pressing needs of the
initial stages; and such abnormal phenomena rapidly became a thing of
the past at least, as a regular feature of Christianity. So much was
this the case, that when Montanus claimed to be restoring them to the
middle of the 2nd Century, he was at once branded as an innovator, an
imposter and a heretic." 3
By the 4th Century, we can rest assured that such activities disapp-
eared. Augustine wrote: "Who in our day expects that those on whom
hands are laid so that they may receive the Holy Spirit should forth-
with speak in tongues?...These were signs adapted to the times. For
there behooved to be that betokening of the Spirit in all tongues to
show that the Gospel of God was to run through all the tongues over
the earth. But that thing was done for the betokening, and it has pas-
sed away." 4
By the time of the 13th Century, when St. Thomas Aquinas wrote his
magnificent Summa Theologica, the Angelic Doctor would simply treat
the gift of tongues as "the divinely imparted knowledge of a variety
of languages. The apostles had this gift and were able to speak the
languages of all the people to whom they were sent...speaking in one
language, they were understood by all." 5
St. Thomas, with his vast knowledge of the Fathers of the Church
would have mentioned another such manifestation of tongues if it had
continued in Church history.
Glossolaly
Most writers hold that glossolaly (speaking in tongues) seemed to re-
appear in the Protestant sect founded by Charles Parham in Topeka,
Kansas around 1901. Msgr. Ronald Knox, however, speaks of an earlier
reappearance in Presbyterian Edward Irving's congregation in the
1830's. He writes, "Glossolaly began in Irving's congregation; and be-
fore long, to the scandal of many, but to his own delight, his sermons
were interrupted by prophets who rose and uttered their message, some-
times, intelligibly, sometimes by the use of tongues." 6
Of this phenomenon, Knox remarks, "I DO NOT DENY THE EXISTENCE OF
GLOSSOLALY ALL THROUGH THE PERIOD OF DISPUTE. TO SPEAK WITH TONGUES
YOU NEVER LEARNED WAS, AND IS, A RECOGNIZED SYMPTOM IN CASES OF ALLE-
GED DAIBOLIC POSSESSION. WHAT DOES NOT APPEAR IS THAT IT WAS EVER
CLAIMED, AT LEAST ON A LARGE SCALE, AS A SYMPTOM OF DIVINE INSPIRA-
TION, UNTIL THE END OF THE 17TH CENTURY." 7
Knox observes that this glossolaly is "beyond the reach of any lexi-
con", and wryly comments, "we must admit that a child prattles no less
convincingly." 8
Knox also explains that such glossolaly is of no use. He writes, "The
gift of tongues, when so understood, loses its mail evidential value;
nobody who is present, in merely inquiring spirit, will be impressed
with the sight of A talking gibberish and B saying the gibberish means
this and that." 9
Yet this "gibberish" is precisely the manner of "tongues" practiced
by present day Charismatics.
In summary:
1) Pentecostalism practices a "tongues" that bears no resemblance to
what appears in the Acts of the Apostles.
2) Pentecostalism practices a "tongues" that bears no resemblance to
what the Catholic Biblical Encyclopedia carefully defines as "an art-
iculate and intelligible speech..."
3) Pentecostalism practices a "tongues" described by Msgr. Knox as
"gibberish".
4) Despite all this, Pentecostals insist that these "tongues" are a
true manifestation of the Holy Ghost, and completely disregard Msgr.
Knox's gentle reminder that "to speakk in tongues one has never lear-
ned..is a recognixed symptom in alleged cases of diabolic possession."
Let Women Keep Silence?
In closing, it should be noted that at this 30th Anniversary Confer-
ence, there was no shortage of women at the microphone "prophesying",
giving lectures, leading the bidding prayers at Mass, leading the con-
gregation in an eruption of indistinguishable "tongues", leading the
rootin'tootin prayer session on Saturday. It is obvious that these
Charismatics, who constantly justify their existence by quoting St.
Paul's Epistle to the Corinthians, blithely ignore the passage in the
same book of Corinthians which commands, "Let women keep silence in
the Churches". 10
Footnotes:
1)Steinmueller and Sullivan, Catholic Biblical Encyclopedia,(Joseph
Wagner, Inc., New York, 1949) pp.635-636.
2)See Ronald A. Knox, Enthusiasm,(Oxford University Press-New York &
Oxford) pp. 21-24.
3)Rev. Dr. L. Rumble, M.S.C. "Assemblies of God," and other "Pentecos-
tal Churches" p. 25
4) Cf. William J. Whalen, Minority Religions in America,(Alba House,
Staten Island, 1971) p.179
5)Quote taken from Msgr. Paul Glenn, A Tour of the Summa, p. 296.[For
the full quote of St. Thomas Aquinas, please see Summa Theologica,
IIa,IIae, Q.176 article 1]
6)Enthusiasm, p. 552
7)Ibid. p. 551
8)Ibid. p. 553
9)Ibid. p. 554
10)1 Corinthians 14:34
The above articles on this page were taken from:
Catholic Family News
M.P.O. Box 743
Niagara Falls, N.Y. 14302
Catholic Family News is published monthly - 12 issues per year.
Subscription price, $24.00 per year. Sample copy available upon
request.
PAGE UPDATED MARCH 9, 1999